Ultrarunning History
This is a podcast about the history of the sport of ultrarunning. An ultramarathon is generally a race of 50K (31 miles) or more. The sport became popular in the 1980s, but had been in existence since the late 19th century. This podcast will share history and tell stories about ultrarunning history generally before 2000.
- Update frequency
- every 13 days
- Average duration
- 28 minutes
- Episodes
- 179
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
178: Grand Canyon Short Stories – Part Two
In May, thousands of hikers and ultrarunners make their pilgrimage to the Grand Canyon to hike or run across this amazing wonder of the world.
I have been producing short videos for the new Grand Ca…
I have been producing short videos for the new Grand Ca…
00:27:48 |
Sun 01 Jun 2025
177: Grand Canyon History Short Stories – Part One
This weekend (mid May each year) the North Rim of the Grand Canyon opened for the season. Thousands of hikers and ultrarunners make their pilgrimage to the canyon to hike or run across this amazing w…
00:27:18 |
Fri 16 May 2025
176: Trail Runner Nation Interview about Old Sport Campana
For this episode of the Ultrarunning History Podcast, I included an edited down interview I did with the excellent Trail Runner Nation Podcast. We discussed my new book, Old Sport Campana: Ultrarunni…
00:29:19 |
Sun 04 May 2025
175: The Tarahumara Ultrarunners
In recent years, the story of the amazing Tarahumara (Rarámuri) runners from Mexico exploded into international attention with the publication of Christopher McDougall’s best-selling 2009 book, Born …
00:30:55 |
Thu 17 Apr 2025
174: Old Sport Campana (1836-1906) – Part Seven
In 1889, "Old Sport" Peter Napoleon Campana (1836-1905) returned home to Bridgeport, Connecticut, after his four-month trip to California. His celebrity status had increased because of news stories a…
00:26:21 |
Sat 29 Mar 2025
173: Old Sport Campana (1836-1906) – Part Six
fter ten years of competing in ultra-distance races, Old Sport, Peter Napoleon Campana (1836-1906), age 52, had never gone west of the Mississippi River. That was all about to change in 1889. Frank W…
00:26:14 |
Sat 15 Mar 2025
172: Old Sport Campana (1836-1906) – Part Five
By 1888, Old Sport Campana had competed in 35 ultra-distance races, and eight in 1888. He also competed in the most historic six-day race of the 19th century, held in November 1888 in Madison Square …
00:23:34 |
Sat 01 Mar 2025
171: Old Sport Campana (1836-1906) – Part Four
By 1884, “Old Sport” Peter Napoleon Campana (1836-1906), had gained national fame. He was being called "the clown of the walking matches." While he was never competitive enough to win a six-day race,…
00:23:34 |
Wed 12 Feb 2025
170: Old Sport Campana (1836-1906) – Part Three
By 1880, “Old Sport” Peter Napoleon Campana (1836-1906), a fruit and nut peddler from Bridgeport, Connecticut, had established himself as an odd anomaly in the very popular spectator sport of six-day…
00:27:42 |
Thu 30 Jan 2025
169: Old Sport Campana (1836-1906) – Part Two
“Old Sport” Peter Napoleon Campana (1836-1906), of Bridgeport, Connecticut, a poor street vendor, and talented runner, wanted to become a professional pedestrian/ultrarunner. At age 42, he was viewed…
00:28:06 |
Thu 16 Jan 2025
168: Old Sport Campana (1836-1906) – Part One
Peter Napoleon Campana (1836-1906), of Bridgeport, Connecticut, known as "Old Sport," was recognized as the most popular and entertaining “clown” of ultrarunning. It was said of him, "Campana kicks u…
00:26:32 |
Fri 03 Jan 2025
167: Connie Gardner – National Champion Ultrarunner
Connie Gardner, from Akron Ohio, is the 25th person inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame, joining the Hall in 2024. From 2002 to 2012, she was a national champion eleven times at 50 m…
00:25:21 |
Sun 17 Nov 2024
166: Stu Mittleman – The Ultrarunning Professor
Stu Mittleman was the sixth person to be inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. During the 1980s, while a college professor from New York, he became the greatest multi-day runner in th…
00:28:10 |
Thu 24 Oct 2024
165: Bernd Heinrich – Naturalist Ultrarunner
During the first half of the 1980s, Bernd Heinrich, of Vermont, was the fastest ultrarunner in America. In 2007, he was the fifth person to be inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. To…
00:32:38 |
Tue 01 Oct 2024
164: Sue Ellen Trapp – Pioneer Ultrarunner and Legend
Sue Ellen Trapp was one of the elite women pioneer ultrarunners who burst into the sport in the 1970s. She was the fourth person to be inducted into The American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. She quickl…
00:25:23 |
Wed 18 Sep 2024
163: Marcy Schwam: Pioneer Ultrarunner
Marcy Schwam, from Massachusetts, was an ultrarunning pioneer in the 1970s and early 1980s, during an era when some people still believed long-distance running was harmful to women. She won about 30 …
00:31:37 |
Wed 04 Sep 2024
162: Sandy Kiddy – Pioneer Ultrarunner (1936-2018)
Sandra "Sandy" Jean (Mackey) Kiddy (1936-2018) of Rancho Mirage, California was the first woman to be inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. She was born in Grand Rapids Michigan to Ro…
00:19:41 |
Sat 17 Aug 2024
161: Gordy Ainsleigh’s Western States Run – 50 Years Ago
Gordy Ainsleigh made his famous run on the Western States Trail 50 years ago, on August 3-4, 1974. Ainsleigh's run in the rugged, hot Sierra in California. It did not get much attention until several…
00:20:04 |
Sat 27 Jul 2024
160: Ted Corbitt – Part Three (1964-2007)
For most elite ultrarunner, as they reach their mid-40s, their competitive years are mostly behind them. But for Ted Corbitt, his best years were still ahead of him, as he would become a national cha…
00:28:33 |
Sun 21 Jul 2024
159: Ted Corbitt – Part Two (1953-1963)
After Ted Corbitt's disappointing 1952 Olympic marathon, he was determined to continue running. His key takeaway was that he had to elevate his performance by running more often and covering greater …
00:28:43 |
Thu 20 Jun 2024
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are the property of Davy Crockett. This content is not affiliated with or endorsed by eachpod.com.